Tobacco-stemming machine.



PATBNTED AUG. 2, 1904.

B. G. PHILLIPS. TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED snr'r. as, 1901. mmnwnn NOV. 27. 1903.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

E. G. PHILLIPS.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1901. RENEWED NOV. 27. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wa p m,

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT CEEicE.

TOBACCO-STEIVHVHNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,466, dated August 2, 1904-.

Application filed September 23, 1901. Renewed November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,909. (No model.)

To all 1071,0711 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELWOOD C. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco- Stemniing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In tobacco-stemming machines heretofore used in the art the most usual practice was to divide the leaf of tobacco along the stem of the same and then separate the stem portion from the leaf-sections so formed in an automatic and continuous manner. As distinguished from such prior mechanisms, the present invention involves the novel operation of initially reducing the stem portion of the to bacco-leaf to a thin web or membrane by the abrasive action of a suitable grinding or abrading cylinder and the subsequent division or separation of such leaf along the thin web or membrane so formed.

Accordingly the object of the present improvement is to provide a simple, durable, and eiiicient apparatus for receiving the leaves of tobacco to be stemmed in a successive manner and present the stem portions thereof in an automatic manner to the abradingperiphery of a suitable abrading-cylinder, and in which such stem portions are maintained in proper contact with the periphery of the abrading-cylinder by means of a supporting breast-piece, and an automatic feeding mechanism, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and he more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the present invention, Figure l is a side elevation of a tobacco-stemming machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with the cutter casing or housing and the pressure-finger removed; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional elevation at line a: w, Fig. 2, illustrat ng stem guiding, cutting, and feeding mechanism of the present invention; Fig. l, an enlarged detail transverse section of the same at line .11 w, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a similar view at line :c a, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the main supporting-frame of the machine, and 2 and 3 horizontal tables or shelves secured thereto in superimposed and separated relation.

4 is a revolving grinding or abrading cylinder the periphery of which is provided with a series of abrading-teeth or other equivalent grinding or abrading surface.

5 is a stationary casing secured to the upper table or shelf 2. Such casing is adapted to house or inelose the abrading or grinding cylinder 4: and is provided with central hubs on its respective sides to form journals for the carrying-shaft of the grinder or cutter Wheel 4: aforesaid.

6 is a revoluble feed wheel or cylinder journaled in suitable bearings beneath the upper table or shelf 2 and adapted to project through an opening in said shelf with the crown of its periphery approximately on a line with the upper surface of said upper table, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 3. The periphery of such feed-wheel is preferably of a grooved or trough shape formed with transverse serrations, so as to afford a substantial engagement with the stem portion of the tobacco-leaf and a consequent etlicient feeding movement of the same to the abrading or grinding cylinder &, as hereinafter more fully explained.

'7 is an adjustable breast-piece having horizontal adjustment by means of a horizontallyelongated supporting-base 8, resting upon the lower table or shelf 2 and adjustably secured thereto by means of a clamping-bolt 9, passing through an elongated orifice in the said supporting-base 8.

In the construction shown the breast-piece is arranged intermediate of the abradingcylinder and the feeding-cylinder 6 with its upper surface substantially on a level with the crown of the feeding-cylinder and arranged on a plane that intersects the lower end of the abrading-cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 3 0f the drawings. \Vith such arrangement of parts the stem portion of the tobacco-leaf is presented and exposed to the abrading action of the periphery of the abrading-cylinder 1 to be ground down to a web or membrane of the desired thinness in the passage of the tobacco-leaf-past said abrading-cylinder, the

adjustment of the. breast-piece -7 to or from the periphery of the abrading-cylinder governing the degree of thinness to which the stem portion of the leaf is reduced in its passage.

10 is an elastic pressure finger or tongue, the lowerand free end of which has adjacent relation to the crown of the feed-wheel 6 and is provided with a groove or channel in the side or face which is opposed to the grooved face of the feed-Wheel, and such grooved face is adapted to bear upon the upper surface of the stem portion of a tobacco-leaf and by the resiliency ofv its body portion hold the said stem portion of the leaf in feeding contact with the feed-wheel; 11, an adjustable holder for the elastic pressure finger or tongue 10, pivotally attached to the stationary casingor housing 5 of the machine and capable of adjustment to regulate the tension of said pressure finger or tongue.

12 12 are counterpart revoluble brushes arranged at opposite sides of the abrading-cylinder 4: and immediately to the rear of the breast-piece 7. The main function of such brushes is to separate or tear the tobacco-leaf into sections along the line of the stem portion, and more particularlythrough the thin web or membrane left by the action of the abrading-cylinder upon such stem portion. Other functions of such brushes are to remove the grindings as fast as formed aWayfrom the abrading-cylinder and to direct the respective sections of the tobacco-leaf down onto the lower receiving table or shelf 2 in a position for. convenient removal by the operator.

13, 14., and 15 are the respective carryingshafts of the abrading-cylinder 4:, the feed wheel 6, and the counterpart brushes 12.

16 is the main driving-shaft of the machine having operative connection with the shaft 13 of the abrading-cylinder 4 by pulley-and-belt connections 17 and with one of the shafts 15 of the brushes 12 by pulley-and-belt connections 18.

19 is a pair of gears imposing positive and uniform rotation upon the carrying-shafts of the counterpart brushes 12.

20 is a slow-speed belt-and-pulley connection between the abrading cylinder-shaft 13 and the driving-shaft 16.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, means for maintaining the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that said stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feeding the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder, and means for separating the leaf on the line of such reduction, substantially as set forth.

2. Inamachine forstemmingtobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, means for maintaining the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that said stem will be reduced to a thin web, means .7 5 for progressively feeding the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder, the same comprising a feedwheel engaging one side of the stem, and an elastic finger bearing upon the other side of the stem, and means for separating the leaf on the line of such reduction, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a fixed abutment or breast adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that said stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feed- 7 ing the tobacco-leaf past said wheel, and means for separating the leaf along the line of such reduction, substantially asset forth. 1

4. In amachine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a fixed abutment or breast capable of adjustment in a horizontal plane and adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that said stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feed- IOO ing the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder, and means for separating the leaf on the line of such reduction, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combi- 1o 5 nation of an abrading-cylinder, a fixed abutment or breast adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, a feeding mechanism compris- 11o ing a feed-Wheel and an elastic pressure-finger, and means for separating the leaf on the line of such reduction, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves 1 1 5 of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a fixed abutment or breast capable of adjustment in a horizontal plane and adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, a feeding mechanism compris ing a feed-wheel and an elastic pressure-finger, and means for separating the leaf on the line of such reduction, substantially as set I2 5 forth.

7. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, means for maintaining the stem of the tobacco-leaf in 3 abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feeding the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder, and counterpart brushes ar ranged at opposite sides of said abrading-cylinder and adapted to separate the leaf along -said web, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder. means for maintaining the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abradin g contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feeding the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder the same comprising a feed-wheel and an elastic finger adapted to bear upon the upper surface of the stem and hold the same in feeding contact with the feed-wheel, and counterpart brushes arranged at opposite sides of said abrading-cylinder and adapted to separate the leaf along said web, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for stemming tobacco-leaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a fixed abutment or breast adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said wheel, means for progressively feeding the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to athin web, and counterpart brushes arranged at opposite sides of said abrading-cylinder and adapted to separate the leaf along said web, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine for stemming tobaccoleaves of the character herein describechthe combination of an abrading-cylinder a fixed abutment or breast capable of adjustment in a horizontal plane and adapted tomaintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, means for progressively feeding-the tobacco-leaf past said cylinder,and counterpart brushes arranged at opposite sides of said abrading-cylinder and adapted to separate the leaf along said web, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for stemming tobaccoleaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a lixed abutment or breast adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, a feeding mechanism abutment or breast capable of adjustment in a horizontal plane and adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, a feeding mechanism comprising a feed-wheel and an elastic linger, and counterpart brushes arranged at opposite sides of the abrzuling-cylinder and adapted to separate theleaf along said web, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine for stemming tobaccoleaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, means for maintaining the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, and means for progressively feeding the tobaccoleaf past said cylinder, the same comprising a feed wheel, and an elastic pressure finger formed with a guide-groove in its bearing point or surface, substantially as set forth.

14. In a machine for stemming tobaccoleaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a feeding mechanism, and a fixed abutment arranged intermediate of the abrading-cylinder and the feed-wheel and adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, substantially as set forth.

15. In a machine for stemming tobaccoleaves of the character herein described, the combination of an abrading-cylinder, a feedwheel, an elastic pressure-finger, and a fixed abutment arranged intermediate of the abrading-cylinder and the fixed wheel, and adapted to maintain the stem of the tobacco-leaf in abrading contact with the said cylinder so that the stem will be reduced to a thin web, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day of September, 1901.

ELWOOD U. PHILLIPS. IVitnesscs:

Ronni-rt BURNS, M. H. HOLMES. 

